WELLSPRINGS OF THE HEART

Saturday, July 29, 2017

“The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you.”

2 Corinthians 13:14
The road of life sure does have it's rough spots. There are sharp curves of regret, pitholes that get us stuck in depression, detours full of disapointments, and heartaching deadends. But despite all these navigational challenges life still can be a journey of joy, if we remember one important factor: relationship with the engineer of it all. He took into account all these possible hazards when designing each of our unique pathways. That's way He provided the ultimate driving safety aid of Grace.
Grace can get us past our distractions, overconfidences, blind zones, and collisions. When we give the Holy Spirit direct access to our hearts and wills, this important safety feature is automatially provided.
It helps us deal with skids, road blocks, and even makes it possible for us get back on the road when we swerve off.
Yes, Grace is the best aid there is for reaching our final destination. It flows freely from the cup of love that God has provided for us. Why not take yours along for the journey?

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

As a five year cancer survivor, I have a great interest in finding helpful tools for getting through cancer treatment and dealing with the challenges of survivorship. This book is a real gem! Not only does it give recipes to help eat when plagued by side effects of chemo and cancer symptoms but it offers recipes for several types of special diets.
'Ann's Tips' interspersed throughout the book offer practical and useful solutions to meal planning and cooking.
The beautiful photographs included definitely inspire a desire to cook and spark interest in eating the finished product too!
I appreciate the ease of some of the recipes such as Cozy Rice Pudding. The Tomato Upside Down Cake is a savory that has now been added to my favorite recipes list.
I sincerely wish I would have had this book while undergoing my chemotherapy treatments! It is one I highly recommend for anyone diagnosed with cancer and also their caregivers, family, and friends that want to help them in their cancer journey.
I was supplied a digital copy this cookbook by the publisher for an honest review but now plan to purchase several hard copies as gifts, including one for myself!

Friday, September 9, 2016

As a Stage IV lung cancer survivor, I could very much relate to many thoughts the author expresses in this book. The following is a touching example:"Time for me is now double-edged: every day brings me further from the low of my last relapse but closer to the next recurrence—and, eventually, death. Perhaps later than I think, but certainly sooner than I desire. There are, I imagine, two responses to that realization. The most obvious might be an impulse to frantic activity: to “live life to its fullest,” to travel, to dine, to achieve a host of neglected ambitions. Part of the cruelty of cancer, though, is not only that it limits your time; it also limits your energy, vastly reducing the amount you can squeeze into a day. It is a tired hare who now races. And even if I had the energy, I prefer a more tortoise-like approach. I plod, I ponder."This book is beautifully written and full of the candor of a man who knew and appreciated the life he was given.

When Breath Becomes Air https://www.amazon.com/dp/081298840X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_xnK0xbK4SJ8HG

Thursday, August 25, 2016

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

Friday, December 11, 2015

Worry, Dread, Fear, and Pessimism are not ways to live life to it's fullest. Besides the fact that they make one miserable, these negative feelings steal energy, joy, and the ability to connect in healthy ways with others.

As a cancer survivor, I have had my share of dealing with these downers. We have to recognize and acknowledge the grief, disappointment, and other roots of these feelings. It is important to be kind to ourselves and give our hearts time to recover. But it is also important to know when to rise back up, find new purpose, and move forward.

May your 'dance of life' be one in which you choose hope, gratitude, joy, and love as your favorite steps!

Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

Monday, August 31, 2015

"We are never too old or too young to change, never too far for God’s hand of mercy to reach us, and never beyond the hope of God’s redeeming love."

Shelly Beach wrote the above statement in Section Six of this book, It Is Well With My Soul, Meditations for Those Living with Illness, Pain, and the Challenges of Aging.

She illustrates this truth beautifully with her openness in telling her own story and ones of many others throughout this inspiring book. Full of real human life struggles and emotions, the book applies God's Word in practical helpful ways to bring hope and healing to hurting hearts. As a Stage IV Lung cancer survivor, I found this book greatly beneficial.

(I was provided an electronic copy of this book by the publisher for honest review.)

WELCOME!

Our lives are so full of everyday events, places and things that draw us away from our heart's desires. This site is dedicated to first of all knowing our hearts well and guarding the good things that our LOVING GOD has placed there. A place to discover the beautiful and inspiring in our lives and to free ourselves of things that aren't. I hope you will come by often and tell me about your day and hopefully find encouragement and inspiration to refresh your heart!!!